Built-In Flaws: An Unexpected Opportunity for MSP Security Solutions

If your MSP security solutions aren’t fully taking advantage of the existing market, you’re leaving money on the table. Big-ticket companies are routinely developing products that have flaws that can be exploited by hackers and other cybercriminals. Consider that since June of 2017, all Apple products containing certain chips are vulnerable to cybercriminal intrusion. This wasn’t ostensibly by design–the flaw had to be discovered and pointed out to Apple independently. However, since technology continues to develop at an exponential rate, numerous companies have already upgraded to new Apple systems, and so, they are vulnerable to such flaws in design. They can’t get rid of the computers even if they wanted to as those devices are already integrated into their operations. Thankfully, there are fixes available, but these fixes often require your professionalism to implement.

This is good if you run an MSP since it means you’ve got built-in business, provided you have a minimum level of competency in understanding and fixing the problem. Granted, internal solutions can be implemented, but often, the time and resources involved for a company to go about repairing the issue this way represent a greater expense than simple outsourcing. You want to make this case to clients as best you can. If you can conservatively save them 10 percent over what they would otherwise pay collaterally, you’re saving your clients money in a demonstrable way that makes your services integral to their operation.

The Truth

Apple computers aren’t the only ones who routinely make such mistakes. Your MSP security outreach might do well to additionally point out the recent WannaCry incursion, which was squarely on the shoulders of the NSA. Basically, this intelligence agency mandated a “back door” into Windows operating systems for the purpose of surveillance. This was discovered in March 2017. By May, a ransomware worm was so successful that it affected businesses in over 150 countries, and the culprit still has yet to be apprehended. There are likely multiple culprits involved. This worm came from some cybercriminal “firm” or “startup” located outside the US.

Regardless of who was responsible, this again represents an exceptional positive for MSPs that provide patching and upgrade services automatically. When patches can be applied as soon as a problem is discovered, this safeguards businesses. Additionally, such patches are a lot less likely to be the kind that is feasibly developed internally by likely clients of your MSP. This means they’ve got no choice but to use some outsourced security solution. Well, they don’t have any choice, but if they want to be secure and avoid ransomware, they’ve got to do something effective, not cheap.

Implications

The last thing to consider here is that there are always flaws like this in any operating system, technology or innovation. There are a number of reasons why, but three chief ones are:

Murphy’s law

Moore’s law

Human nature

Murphy’s Law says that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Moore’s Law stipulates that technology of the computational variety doubles on itself every one to two years. Human nature is imperfect at best. All these things together mean that there will always be vulnerabilities in any computer system and that professionals who have made it their business to patch those vulnerabilities are always going to have job security. This further requires human touch because humans design computers, meaning no purely automatic digital system can ever fully protect operations– proof positive of that is social engineering hacks.

Securing Your Clients

You should know how to provide the right cybersecurity services to your clients. If your MSP isn’t providing such services, you’re leaving money on the table. People need these kinds of services, and you represent the most cost-effective, conveniently viable solution.

This is the truth: there is a demand for MSP security because properly doing the job internally is too expensive to be feasible for most businesses. If you’re wise enough to capitalize on this reality, your business is likely to see some increased profitability while securing clients so that they also profit. Everybody wins!

Built-In Flaws: An Unexpected Opportunity for MSP Security Solutions was last modified: January 17th, 2018 by Frans Trisnadi

Frans Trisnadi is the President and CEO of Intelecis, a thriving, business tech-focused, and proactive IT services firm in Los Angeles, CA. Frans is frequently invited to share his expertise on the crucial topic of IT services in Orange County to large group of professionals in the escrow, healthcare, insurance and financial services industries. He helps his clients and peers envisioning a bigger picture of themselves. Frans spends his day-to-day activities on helping businesses, mostly government contractors and or minority-owned business, secure their data and manage their technology with the help of IT support in Orange County so they can focus on growing their business. Intelecis has been around since 2010 and has amassed a large number of long-term clients who year after year put their trust in them.